This code indicates that the engine control module has lost its digital data connection with Fuel Level Sensor C. It typically means the computer can no longer read the fuel level from a specific sender, which is often located in a secondary tank or the opposite side of a saddle-style fuel tank. This is a communication network error rather than a simple out-of-range sensor reading.
Open circuits, shorts to ground, or corroded terminals in the fuel level sensor circuit are the most frequent cause of lost communication.
The sender unit itself may have an internal electrical failure or a failed communication transceiver, preventing it from transmitting data.
A problem with the shared communication network, such as a twisted pair short or open, can prevent the sensor's data from reaching the control module.
A rare possibility where the engine computer has failed internally and can no longer process or receive the network signals from the fuel sensor.
You can usually drive, but you will not have an accurate fuel level reading, which increases the risk of running out of fuel unexpectedly. It will not typically affect engine performance.
Not necessarily. This code specifically refers to the communication aspect of the fuel level sensor, not the fuel pump motor. However, on many vehicles, the level sensor and the pump are part of the same physical assembly, meaning replacing the whole unit might be required.
Rarely. It is a common misdiagnosis to replace the computer for communication codes, but the actual cause is almost always a wiring issue, a connector problem, or the sensor itself. The PCM should only be considered as a last resort after all wiring and the sensor have been proven functional.
Vehicles with large or saddle-shaped fuel tanks often use multiple fuel level senders to accurately measure fuel on both sides of the tank. Sensor C indicates the computer is failing to hear from one of these specific auxiliary senders.